2009 Plebe Parent Tips

This is a very good and informative update document. Thanks for posting it!

One thing did jump out at us.....Are we correct in our understanding about the BBQ's the day before INDOC being "Invitation Only" ?
 
Yes, the sports BBQ is invitation only. Contact the coach of the sport your candidate is interested in and see if you can wrangle an invitation. :)
 
Yes, the sports BBQ is invitation only. Contact the coach of the sport your candidate is interested in and see if you can wrangle an invitation. :)

This whole BBQ thing is a surprise to me. Especially on the eve of reporting for INDOC. Like everything else, the sorting begins (continues). This is just beginning a little earlier than I thought it might.

No, I won't call. It will be up to my candidate to earn invitations that are extended to him. Acta non Verba
 
2013 you are going into this with EXACTLY the right attitude. It is time to cut the apron strings, stand on the sidelines and cheer like deranged Steeler fans.
You have gotten them this far, and for that you deserve a great deal of credit. But, they belong to KP now. They will always be your "kids" but they are no longer your "children."
 
KPMarineopsdad, you meant like deranged CUBS fans I think. We are titled the most deranged. Well earned I might add. Anyhow, my son attended not by invite but by attending with a fellow Candidate who had called & asked if he could bring a "friend". Son's sport, precision rifle, had sadly been discontinued the year he'd gone in. I found that after the bbq, he'd come back very excited about some of the clubs and teams, especially crew. They were all new things to learn about from meeting with those coaches. I would highly suggest that your guys & gals look into attending if at any way possible. Its a learning thing. Plus the night before going into INDOC is alittle... how shall I say.... uh... stressed. They get to meet their compadres before going in. Nice to see the same faces the next day when cadre is up their butt. So maybe try to persuade them to call for the whole invite thing. Its a unique opportunity.
 
Correction, when I said "you" I meant "your child...the candidate." You should not call, he should :)

As Jamzzmom said, the night before indoc is a bit stressful for everyone. Our son went to the sailing BBQ and the track one. The parents and siblings went too and I can tell you it is a stress relief not only for the candidate but for you as well :)

Have them contact the appropriate coach and ask about the BBQ. It's really not hard to get an invitation. :thumb:
 
Very Very confusing this BBQ. Posts here say it is a great thing. Stress relief and information for the entire family. Good way to make contacts and get invaluable information......but, the only way our family found out about it was from this site.

If The Academy knows how valuable and helpful this is, then, why is not just invite everyone as part of the "Logging-In" package with an open invitation and request an RSVP? Just one suggestion.

I am not an expert on KP. As a matter of fact, our knowledge is relatively new and probably incomplete. However, it does not seem like the best approach to exclude and seperate out the candidates at such an important time in their lives......the day before INDOC.

Asking and having to wrangle an invitation is just not the way anyone wants to make a first impression...or is it the preferred method? ......perhaps akin to that notable Notre Dame inspiration - Rudy

KPMarineDad, you bet. We are cheering for him and success in life. More and more everyday. We have stressed to him, it is great he has been accepted to KP, but the accomplishment will be when he is standing on the field at graduation. And, the journey to that end, has just begun!
 
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Regarding the BBQ. If I understand it correctly, technically the BBQ is for those Candidates that were "recruited" to KP for sports, i.e., the appointment came from the coach of a particular sport, however, in the recent years, it has evolved into candidates "showing up." So no one is excluding anyone from an important event. The spring open house which was held in April was for those accepted candidates to meet and mingle.

We are just offering some inside information regarding the BBQ to those parents and candidates who are smart enough to find the forums :)
 
Regarding the BBQ. If I understand it correctly, technically the BBQ is for those Candidates that were "recruited" to KP for sports, i.e., the appointment came from the coach of a particular sport, however, in the recent years, it has evolved into candidates "showing up." So no one is excluding anyone from an important event. The spring open house which was held in April was for those accepted candidates to meet and mingle.

We are just offering some inside information regarding the BBQ to those parents and candidates who are smart enough to find the forums :)

I must be dumber than a bag of hammers......now I am shaking my head even more. Appointment by coach? Candidates can just show up? Not invited but not excluded?

Guess I'll just fade back in to the background as the old gray haired advisor to my son. Sorry for the distraction..... :smile: :cool:
 
Waterfront welcome picnic

2013parent, Your 2013 candidate and family can attend the waterfront welcome picnic. Go on the kp wesite. Go to waterfront. Find contact info and call or email about your interest. Good Luck !!:cool:
 
2013parent, you are making this much more difficult than it needs to be :) Just have your son contact the WF coach,,,it is no big secret about the picnics.

Also, KP is just like any other colleges in that varsity sports coaches can recruit athletes for their programs as well and hence a coach appointment :)
 
Fans needed?

As taken from the 2009 Plebe Parent Tips

Fans are a must during Indoc – you should bring it w/ you or your Candidate can purchase one from the Navy Exchange. Candidates will be allowed to frequent the Navy Exchange during Indoc but at this writing it is not certain when during Indoc this will occur. If you bring one, leave it in the box and make a sturdy handle – they will have to run w/ it across campus. Put an extension cord in the box. Three of the five companies of Candidates will be housed in the newly rebuilt Jones, Barry & Palmer Halls, which are air conditioned. (The assignments are totally random and not made until the Candidates are actually on board.) Window fans will not be needed or allowed in Jones, Barry or Palmer Halls, but smaller desk top or floor models are allowed and recommended.

I thought all of the halls were now air conditioned. Does anybody know this for sure?
 
2013parent, you are making this much more difficult than it needs to be :) Just have your son contact the WF coach,,,it is no big secret about the picnics.

Huh? It seems to be difficult all by itself.

Now two posts have indicated it is WF sports that controls this.........so, it is not other sports? Yeah, it must be me. Asking questions on a forum about something that is not anywhere in anything I can find from KP officially listed.......my bad (as the young folks say!)

Excuse me for being ignorant and surprised......but I am truly both. It is great that you are neither!

This will help me be sensitive to the 2015 parents. :thumb:
 
2013Parent, yeah I know it is somewhat nutty now but originally it was designed for just recruited athletes. Football, soccer, rugby, sailing, crew, ect. Not a separation really but a way to kindle a formation of the team members early on. Now its kind of a more relaxed event where even clubs are also represented. Like the Alpine Club, ect. Truly, no slight is meant to individual kids. Mine was one who had no sport, as I mentioned before, and he didn't receive an invite. He was talking to an online KP pal who said he'd ask the coaches if he could bring a friend. He drug him along. It worked out well & seems to have grown by leaps & bounds since then. Have your son call up & ask if he may attend for curiosity sake if he doesn't have a select sport. You guys can walk around the campus & such. Your son can talk to those who have booths set up for clubs & sports. You can share nervousness with other new parents. The coaches usually welcome the interests the kids have & tell 'em to come on down & sign up for stuff. They'll eat a hot dog or two & mingle with their soon to be "mates". Its all good. If you choose not to, there will be many opportunities later for son to check stuff out so not too worry really. They do open up the doors to them later during INDOC & after. Beware though when your kid calls you up & says he will be boxing. :biggrin: Cranky but I like his nose as is.
 
Exactly as Jamzmome said. My son did not have a sport either, but was interested in sailing. He went to the waterfront bbq (after calling the coach and asking if he could attend) and found out there that they have a club ice hockey team (which he joined). We also walked around campus and went to the track BBQ (without invitation) which was at Land Hall.

It's all pretty relaxed and even if you don't get an "official" invite, just walk around and I'm sure you'll be invited to some food :)
 
Very nice of you to post the info and perspective Jamezmom.....it really helped me and perhaps others.

We are having a hectic week. We drove the boy 162 miles (one way) to apply for the TWIC on Monday....only one center in our state .........they said it would more than likely be back in 2-3 weeks, but you can never tell.....cutting it close. Passport had a glitch and it is now on it's way to us.....and.......drumroll..............all four (4) third molars are being surgically extracted on Friday.

We got a little behind ....... I love it when a plan comes together! :wink:
 
Pre-Indoc Waterfront Picnic

2013parent, Your 2013 candidate and family can attend the waterfront welcome picnic. Go on the kp wesite. Go to waterfront. Find contact info and call or email about your interest. Good Luck !!:cool:

I just got off the phone with Rick Dominique the organizer of the picnic. He said that invitations will be going out in two to three weeks by email and if you send him an email that you are interested in the picnic your name will be added to the list.
 
I just got off the phone with Rick Dominique the organizer of the picnic. He said that invitations will be going out in two to three weeks by email and if you send him an email that you are interested in the picnic your name will be added to the list.

Thanks....his email is: Dominiquer@usmma.edu
 
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